Phil Castle, The Business Times

Tyler Dahl enjoys working in the banking industry. He enjoys even more working for a particular bank, the one he joined after graduating from college and subsequently has served in a succession of positions.

“The biggest thing is the company.”

Dahl doesn’t expect any of that to change in his latest role as regional president of Alpine Bank in Mesa County. That’s because the company values of customer and community service align with his personal values.

“It’s being tied into the community, giving back, helping, being involved,” he says. “Where there’s an Alpine Bank, we hope the community is better for it.”

Dahl oversees operations at a total of five branches in Grand Junction, Clifton and Fruita and a combined staff of more than 50.

He brings to his duties 14 years of experience at the Alpine Bank branch in Montrose, the last four as president. He also managed bank operations in Delta and Ouray counties.

The operations and communities with which he was familiar in his previous position are similar to those in his new position, he says. “There’s a lot in common there.”

Mike Burns, another regional president at Alpine Bank, hailed Dahl’s promotion. “Tyler has been an instrumental part of the success of Alpine Bank Montrose over the past 14 years. He exhibits a level of experience, determination and customer service that directly benefits our clients,” Burn says. “This is a great opportunity for Tyler and his family as well as the communities that Alpine Bank serves in Mesa County.”

Dahl joined Alpine Bank and its officer training program in 2007 following his graduation from what’s now Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. He received a bachelor’s degree from CMU in business administration with an emphasis in finance. In 2011, he graduated from the University of Colorado Graduate School of Banking. He says he’s always been interested in numbers and applying them to business operations. “It was kind of a natural fit.”

He grew up in Rangely in northwest Colorado, where his father worked for Chevron and his mother worked for the school district.

Dahl says he’s familiar with the ups and downs of the Western Colorado economy, starting with the Great Recession that occurred shortly after he joined Alpine Bank.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented an experience of a different sort, he says, and a lesson in the importance of flexibility. Bank lobbies were closed at first, then open only by appointment. More transactions shifted to the phone and online.

At the same time, two Alpine Bank locations in Montrose were consolidated into one building that was expanded.

Staff had to adjust, he says, to doing one thing one day knowing that could change the next day. 

“It was tough,” Dahl says. “But I love and have so much admiration for my staff.”

Alpine Bank played an important role in helping other businesses get through the pandemic, Dahl says. The bank issued a total of 6,132 loans worth a collective
$471 million through two rounds of the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

The pandemic exerted other effects in accelerating the relocation of people to Western Colorado, he says.

The pandemic made people realize they could work remotely and live anywhere — and many of them chose Grand Junction, Montrose and other communities in the region for the lifestyles and outdoor recreation they offer. “Their dreams became a reality.”

But rising demand for housing — and along with it, prices — has made lack of affordable housing an increasingly pressing issue to address, he says.

In his new position in Mesa County, Dahl says he’ll oversee operations and lending as well as work with staff to develop and implement a vision.

As only the third leader of Alpine Bank operations in Mesa County in 30 years, he says a good framework has long been in place. 

Moreover, the staff in Mesa County brings to their duties longevity and commitment. “We have a great staff in Mesa County that continues to take care of customers.”

Customer and community service remain priorities, he says, both for staff and himself.

He says he’s excited about his new leadership role as well as the opportunities it affords to continue working in the banking industry — and for Alpine Bank.